Blog Cellar

Château Pesquié Terrasses Ventoux Rouge 2011

I picked up Château Pesquié Terrasses Ventoux Rouge 2011 because I am nearly always in the mood for a Rhone wine, and I recalled enjoying their Terrasses Rosé this past summer. Purchased by Odette and Rene Bastide in the early 1970’s, Château Pesquié is a family owned estate located at the foot of the Ventoux Mountains. It has been at the forefront of sustainable agriculture since 1985 when 2ndgeneration winemaker Paul Chaudiѐre began pioneering sustainable cultivation. In 2003 it became one of the first independent wineries to obtain official certification. Only organic fertilizers are used, and instead of pesticides, they utilize a hydraulic based machine for manual weed removal. Today the Domaine is run by Paul’s two sons Alexandre and Frédéric and their cousin, who continue with the mission to produce “extraordinary wines” by harnessing “the potential of the outstanding Ventoux terroir”. They named this cuvee Terrasses [Latin, meaning “lump of earth”] after the “countryside terraces their ancestors carved into carefully chosen sites.” For the 2011 vintage, 35% of the wine was aged in oak barrels.

Dark red-violet in colour, after aerating aromas of summer wildflowers and minerals rose from the glass. Blackberry and tart cherry flavours joined silky smooth tannins in the medium body. Spicy white pepper, mocha and earthy minerals comprised the moderate finish. Straightforward and easy drinking, this is a fantastic glass for the table.